Nepal.s natural beauty continues to attract travellers from
all over the world who come to experience for themselves Nepal.s uniqueness as
a trekking destination. What in particular makes Nepalstand out as the world.s most popular country for trekkers and adventure
tourists in general?
1) The prime attraction is of course the Himalayan mountain
range itself, the central portion of which comprises the Kingdom of Nepal. As an ancient Sanskirt
proverb states, .A hundred divine epochs would not suffice to describe all the Himalayas!..
Of the 14 Peaks in the world above 8,000 metres, 8 are in Nepal.
Beneath the backdrop of these majestic peaks lie Nepal.s hill country where
most of the major trekking routes are located.
2) Life in these regions has been little effected by the
inroads of modern civilization so that the area remains completely unspoilt in
comparison with other tourist destinations. Nepalhas few roads so actually trekking is the only way to really see and appreciate
the country.
3) Nepal.s many ethnic groups are almost as diverse as the
country itself, ranging from the Mongolian .Bhotes. in the north to darker
skinned Aryans in the South with many shades in between. This .cultural
scenery. is also a feature of interest to most trekkers.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF TREKKING
Although Nepalopened its doors to the outside world in 1949, it took at least another decade
for tourism to really get rolling and to build up the necessary infrastructures
for things to run smoothly and effectively. Thus, government of Nepalfirst began to allow short treks in 1964, at which timethere were no organized trekking agencies and
very few travel agencies. First to take the initiative in forming a trekking
agency was Lt. Col. Jimmy Roberts who established Mountain Travel Nepalin 1964. Already an experienced mountaineer Col. Roberts was able to draw his
clients from mountaineering circle that he was acquainted with.
Within a few years, tour operators such as Thomas Cook and
Sportshaus Schuster were sending groups and business continued to expand
steadily. Other trekking agencies to be established such as Trans Himalayan
Trekking Pvt. Ltd. in 1969, followed by many others. The credit for pioneering
the marketing of trekking tours in the Himalayas goes to
Capt. M.S. Kohli as in 1971 he introduced trekking in the Himalayasas a commercial proposition and launched a worldwide campaign which was
responsible for the unprecedented success of these tours. There are numerous
advantages of trekking with an agency, the best of which is that the .agency
takes care of everything including all travel arrangements, meals, experienced
guide, cook and porters for your luggage so that a trekker is free to enjoy
himself. Trekking with an agency is also much safer as there is no chance of
robbery or crime which has in the past few years become somewhat of a risk for
individual trekkers.
CLASSIFICATION OF TREKS
Most trekking agencies divide their treks into basically
four regions both for convenience and practical purposes. These four regions
are:
1) Northern region i.e. north of Kathmandu,
encompassing mainly Helambu, Gosainkund and Langtang valley.
2) Eastern/Everest region. This includes not only Everest
base camp but also Namche Bazar, Lukla, Thangboche monastery and the whole
Solukhumbu area.
3) Central region encompassing all treks whose starting
point is Pokhara e.g. Jomosom, Muktinath, Manang and Annapurnasanctuary.
4) Western region . mainly Surkhet, Jumla and RaraLake. The majority of treks fall
into these four areas though some trekking agencies also organize treks to less
frequented areas such as the far west of Nepaland Arun valley (World.s deepest ).
Besides classifying by areas, some agencies also classify
their treks by grades or by length which further helps the potential trekker to
make a suitable choice. To be more explicit trekking brochures usually list 3
grades: easy (eg. 2-5 day trek north of Pokhara); medium (eg. 12 day trek to
Gosainkund); and difficult (eg. 4 weeks trek to Everest base camp). An average
trek last about 2 weeks and unless a client has had previous trekking
experience, he should start with a small to medium length trek.
HOW ORGANIZED TREKS ARE CONDUCTED
The average trekking group consists of between 6 and 12
people though numbers can be varied anywhere from 1 to 25 people, not including
staff. Naturally, the number of staff increases proportionally to the number of
trekkers but on average, a group should have 2 Sherpas, one or two cooks, a few
porters and a sardar who acts as group leader and co-ordinator. If clients
speak French, German or some other European language, then a sardar with
knowledge of these languages can usually be arranged (through prior
information). As far as baggage is concerned, each client is issued with a
.daypack. which will then be carried by the porters. There is usually a luggage
limit of 15 kg. Personal effects such as camera, binoculars, sweater and the
like are carried by the trekkers themselves. Besides carrying the daypacks,
porters also carry all food and cooking fuel, which helps to preserve the
environment. This by the way, has been a major cause for concern of both HMG
and conservationists alike as many trekkers were cutting down trees for
firewood causing deforestation and subsequent erosion in some areas. A typical
daily schedule is as follows:- The day starts at 6
a.m. with a cup of hot tea, followed by breakfast at 6.30. By 7
o.clock everyone should he ready to start walking. The reason for this early
start is to take advantage of the cool morning when walking is easiest; also
the morning air is very clear, allowing a better view of the mountains than at
other times of the day. The cooks rush ahead to prepare lunch which should then
be ready when the groups arrive at around 11 o.clock. After reaching a suitable
spot, usually close to a village, the Sherpas and porters set up the tents and
tea is served. One is then free to rest or explore the nearby surroundings
according to one.s wishes. After an evening meal at around 7 p.m. most trekkers turn to their tents to enjoy a sound
sleep.
HOW TO ARRANGE A TREK
The trekking season starts from October and extends to the
end of May after which comes the monsoon rains. The months of November and
December are best for clear views of the mountains, but temperatures are also
quite low at this time. The weather gets warmer around March at which
rhododendrons and other alpine flora start to appear. However, views also start
to get a little hazy due to the warmer weather. In organizing a trek, Kathmandutrekking agencies require the following information in order to make a
reservation:-
1) intended route,
2) number of trekking days,
3) number of persons,
4) date of arrival in Kathmandu,
5) proposed date for starting the trek and if known,
6) probable hotel address in Kathmandu.
Upon receiving this information the concerned trekking
agency will then furnish all necessary details including cost quotation. The
home travel agency will be required to place 50% deposit for confirmation after
which the remaining details (such as visa forms and trekking permits) will be
worked out.
Reservations should be made about 3 months in advance and it
is also recommended that trekkers stay at least a few days in Kathmandufirst before embarking on their trek in order to acclimatize. Cancellation fees
vary according to the notice given. Under no circumstances do trekking agencies
give a refund once a trek has begun. Insurance is strongly recommended by most
trekking agencies in order to cover the cost of emergency rescue by helicopter.
Some trekking agencies also handle other arrangements such as hotel
accommodation and onward flights.
Physically Fit and Mentally Prepared
As with adults, children should not set out on a trek unless
they are reasonably strong and in good health. Children of at least five years
can walk further, and their awareness is at a level where they can gain much
from what they see. Perhaps even more important, at this age they are capable
of following good health practices: of keeping everything but food and drink
out of their mouth, of washing hands frequently, and of not getting too
friendly with village dogs. It is also important that children be mentally
prepared for what they.ll encounter. For example, they may find themselves
eating dinner without fork or spoon in a dark, smoky mud room, huddled around a
fire with goats and dogs, and with chickens running over their legs.
While this may be a pleasant adventure for some children, it
can also be a little frightening if they are not forewarned. Of course, if
you.re trekking with cook, porters, and tents, you.ll find yourself eating in
much the same style as you would on a picnic, but with tables and chairs if you
choose.
None-the-less, be mentally prepared: even if you have done a
lot of hiking in your own country, you will find trekking in Nepala very different experience.
HEALTH CARE
Wherever you trek, find out about trail conditions and by
all means take enough warm clothes and adequate sleeping bags. One night at
3,000 m without enough warmth can spoil your entire trek. Everything you need
is available for rent in Kathmandu.s trekking shops or from your agent. And be
sure to pack a few snacks. A handful of muesli or a bite of a carefully
treasured candy bar can do wonders to lift flagging spirits on a hard day.
During your first two weeks in Nepalyou, like most visitors, whether young or old, may go through a period of
bodily adjustment. You may experience some digestive disorder, but once it.s
over, a little care should prevent anything more serious. Don.t let your children
drink water except that which you or your trekking cookhave boiled or which has
been properly treated with iodine. Local food when eaten hot should be safe, as
should hot tea. Make sure your medical kit has plenty of band aids and sterile
dressings as well as antiseptic creams for minor scrapes and cuts.
POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND
It is perhaps worth mentioning a few points which without
clarification can sometimes cause misunderstandings, especially with those
tourists who have not travelled in Asia before. First of
all, a client should understand exactly what trekking is . it is not
mountaineering or rock scrambling and therefore does not exclude women or older
people. Trekking is for all ages from teenagers upwards. Also, trekkers should
be physically fit and should enjoy walking and camping life. As one guide book
says, .The first night of your trek too late to find out you don.t like to
sleep in a sleeping bag!.. One final point concerns the environment. Nepalis a beautiful country and trekking agencies are very concerned that it stays
this way. Nothing would spoil the Himalayas more than
trails of cigarette packets and sweet wrappers. It would be helpful if all
trekkers were asked to stick to the motto, .take nothing but photos, leave
nothing but footprints.. With all that Nepalhas to offer, it seems fairly sure that the trekking trade will continue to
grow and prosper!
